1999 FORD F150 weight

Trailer frontal area considerations:
²Not to exceed towing vehicle front area without Class III trailer towing
package
²Not to exceed 5.52 square meters (60 square feet) with Class III
trailer towing package
Preparing to tow
Use the proper equipment for towing a trailer, and make sure it is
properly attached to your vehicle. See your dealer or a reliable trailer
dealer if you require assistance.
Hitches
Do not use hitches that clamp onto the vehicle's bumper or attach to the
axle. You must distribute the load in your trailer so that 10% of the total
weight of the trailer is on the tongue.
Load equalizing hitch
When hooking up a trailer using a load equalizing hitch, always use the
following procedure:
1. Park the unloaded vehicle on a level surface. With the ignition on and
all doors closed, allow the vehicle to stand for several minutes so that it
can level.
2. Turn the air suspension (if equipped) control to OFF.
3. Measure the height of a reference point on the front and rear bumpers
at the center of the vehicle.
4. Attach the trailer to the vehicle and adjust the hitch equalizers so that
the front bumper height is within 0±13 mm (0.5 in) of the reference
point. After proper adjustment, the rear bumper should be no higher
than in Step 3.
5. Turn the air suspension (if equipped) control to ON.
Adjusting an equalizing hitch so the rear bumper of the vehicle
is lower or higher than it was unloaded will defeat the function
of the load equalizing hitch and may cause unpredictable handling.
Driving
141

Safety chains
Always connect the trailer's safety chains to the vehicle. To connect the
trailer's safety chains, cross the chains under the trailer tongue and allow
slack for turning corners.
If you use a rental trailer, follow the instructions that the rental agency
gives to you.
Do not attach safety chains to the bumper.
Trailer brakes
Electric brakes and manual, automatic or surge-type brakes are safe if
installed properly and adjusted to the manufacturer's specifications. The
trailer brakes must meet local and Federal regulations.
Do not connect a trailer's hydraulic brake system directly to your
vehicle's brake system. Your vehicle may not have enough
braking power and your chances of having a collision greatly increase.
The braking system of the tow vehicle is rated for operation at the
GVWR not GCWR.
Trailer lamps
Trailer lamps are required on most towed vehicles. Make sure your
trailer lamps conform to local and Federal regulations. See your dealer or
trailer rental agency for proper instructions and equipment for hooking
up trailer lamps.
Using a step bumper
The rear bumper is equipped with an integral hitch and requires only a
ball with a 25.4 mm (one inch) shank diameter. The bumper hasa2270
kg (5 000 lb.) trailer weight and 227 kg (500 lb.) tongue weight
capability.
If it is necessary to relocate the trailer hitch ball position, a
frame-mounted trailer hitch must be installed.
Driving while you tow
Do not drive faster than 88 km/h (55 mph) when towing a trailer.
Speed control may shut off if you are towing on long, steep grades.
Driving
142

When towing a trailer:
²Use a lower gear when towing up or down steep hills. This will
eliminate excessive downshifting and upshifting for optimum fuel
economy and transmission cooling.
²Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
Exceeding the GCWR rating may cause internal transmission
damage and void your warranty coverage.
Servicing after towing
If you tow a trailer for long distances, your vehicle will require more
frequent service intervals. Refer to your Scheduled Maintenance guide
for more information.
Trailer towing tips
²Practice turning, stopping and backing up in an area before starting on
a trip to get the feel of the vehicle trailer combination. When turning,
make wider turns so the trailer wheels will clear curbs and other
obstacles.
²Allow more distance for stopping with a trailer attached.
²The trailer tongue weight should be 10±15% of the loaded trailer
weight.
²After you have traveled 80 km (50 miles), thoroughly check your
hitch, electrical connections and trailer wheel lug nuts.
²When stopped in traffic for long periods of time in hot weather, place
the gearshift in P (Park) (automatic transmissions) or N (Neutral)
(manual transmissions). This aids engine cooling and air conditioner
efficiency.
²Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade. If you must
park on a grade, place wheel chocks under the trailer's wheels.
Launching or retrieving a boat
When backing down a ramp during boat launching or retrieval,
²Do not allow the static water level to rise above the bottom edge of
the rear bumper and
²Do not allow waves to break higher than 15 cm (six inches) above the
bottom edge of the rear bumper.
Driving
143

4WD ± Electronic shift transfer case
1. Place transmission in N (Neutral).
2. Shift the transfer case to 2H (2WD high).
3. Lockout the center disconnect by capping off one of the front axle
vacuum motor lines. See your dealer for assistance.
4. Maximum speed is 56 km/h (35 mph).
5. Maximum distance is 80 km (50 miles).
If a distance of 80 km (50 miles) or a speed of 56 km/h (35 mph) must
be exceeded, you must disconnect the rear driveshaft. With the rear
driveshaft disconnected, the maximum speed is 88 km/h (55 mph) and
there are no mileage restrictions.
See your dealer for help with disconnecting the driveshaft.
SNOWPLOWING
Ford recommends the following specifications for low speed, personal
use snow removal:
²F-150/F±250 4WD Regular Cab long wheelbase
²4.6L or 5.4L engine
²Heavy duty service package
²Super engine cooling
²Heavy duty front suspension package
²Automatic transmission with auxiliary automatic transmission fluid
cooling
²All-terrain tires
Do not install a snowplow and plow with your vehicle until it has been
driven at least 800 km (500 miles).
Installing snowplow
Read the following instructions before installing a snowplow:
²Front GAWR must not exceed 63% of the GVW. Add ballast weight to
the back of the vehicle, if necessary. Refer to the Safety Compliance
Certification Label to find Front GAWR.
Driving
145

²The Front Axle Accessory Reserve Capacity and the Total Accessory
Reserve Capacity listed on the bottom right of the Safety Compliance
Certification Label will determine whether or not the addition of a
snowplow will overload your vehicle.
²The weight of the snowplow and supporting components distributed to
the front axle must not exceed the front accessory reserve capacity.
²The total weight of the snowplow and aftermarket equipment must
not exceed the Total Accessory Reserve Capacity.
²The weight of the installed snowplow and aftermarket equipment must
not load the vehicle beyond the GAWR (front/rear) and GVWR listed
on the Safety Compliance Certification Label.
²The total weight of the snowplow and aftermarket equipment must be
considered part of the payload and must not exceed the Gross
Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) for towing.
²Federal and most local regulations require additional exterior lamps
for snowplow-equipped vehicles. Consult your dealer for additional
information.
²After installing a snowplow to the vehicle, ensure the vehicle's front
toe alignment and front ride height are within specification (reset if
required). These specifications are located in the vehicle's Workshop
Manual. Adherence to the toe, tire pressures and ride height
specification is important for proper tire wear, ride, handling and
headlight aim. Also, maintain the engine oil and transmission fluid
change intervals following the severe duty schedule.
Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label.
Removing snowplow
Read the following instructions before removing a snowplow:
²After removing a snowplow from the vehicle, ensure the vehicle's front
toe alignment and front ride height are within specification (reset if
required). These specifications are located in the vehicle's Workshop
Manual. Adherence to the toe and ride height specification is
important for proper tire wear, ride, handling and headlight aim.
Driving
146

²Drive at reasonable speeds (traveling at 105 km /h [65 mph] uses 15%
more fuel than traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph]).
²Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
²Use of the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
²Use of speed control (if equipped) may improve fuel economy. Speed
control can help maintain a constant speed and reduce speed changes.
You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain as
unnecessary shifting between third and fourth gears may occur and
could result in reduced fuel economy.
²Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
²Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
²Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
²Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
²Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
²Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant Specifications.
²Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle Scheduled Maintenance Guide.
Conditions
²Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
²Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
2 km/h [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
²Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollover/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
²To maximize the fuel economy, drive with the tonneau cover installed
(if equipped).
²Use of fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
Maintenance and care
201

detergent in fuel .....................197
filling your vehicle
with fuel ...........................195,198
quality ......................................197
running out of fuel .................197
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................195
Fuses ...................................150,151
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) ...199,200,201
Gauges .........................................12
engine coolant temperature
gauge .........................................13
engine oil pressure gauge ........15
fuel gauge ..................................12
GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
calculating ...............................135
Hazard flashers .........................149
Headlamps
aiming ......................................209
bulb specifications ..................208
high beam ..............................9,68
warning chime ..........................11
Heating ........................................56
heater only system ..............56,57
heating and air
conditioning system ............58,60
Hood ..........................................169
Ignition .......................................219
Inspection/maintenance
(I/M) testing ..............................203
Instrument panel ..........................6
cleaning ...................................212
Keys
key in ignition chime ...............11
positions of the ignition ...........61
removing from the ignition ....127
Lamps
autolamp system .......................17
daytime running light ...............16
fog lamps ...................................16headlamps .................................16
headlamps, flash to pass ..........68
instrument panel, dimming .....17
interior lamps ...........................69
replacing bulbs ..204,206,207,208
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................62
Lights, warning and indicator
air bag ..........................................8
air suspension .........................119
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..............9
anti-theft .....................................9
brake ............................................8
charging system ..........................9
door ajar ....................................11
engine oil pressure ...................10
fuel reset ...................................11
low fuel ........................................6
safety belt ...................................8
service engine soon ....................7
turn signal indicator ...................9
Lumbar support, seats ..........87,88
Manual transmission
reverse .....................................127
Mirrors
fold away ...................................72
side view mirrors (power) .......71
Motorcraft parts ........................198
Octane rating ............................197
Odometer .....................................13
Overdrive .....................................68
Parking brake ............................117
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................154
Power door locks ..............70,80,81
Power steering ..........................118
fluid,
checking and adding .......181,182
Radio ....19,20,21,22,24,25,26,27,28
29,30,31,33,34,35,36
Relays ........................................150
Remote entry system ............79,80
Index
226